NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State fell short in both games against SIU Edwardsville on Friday afternoon at Tiger Field. The Cougars gained the victory in the opener, 4-2, and held on to take the night cap, 2-1. TSU fell to 16-32, 4-14 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while SIUE improved to 22-19, 14-3 in conference.

In game one, the Cougars built a 3-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. SIUE pitcher Haley Chambers was perfect heading into the frame and recorded the first two outs. Kiarra Freeman broke through for TSU as she lined a single into left for the first base runner of the game.

Courtney Gearlds continued the inning with a drive into centerfield. The speedy left fielder picked up her third triple in the last nine days, as she chased Freeman around the bases to get the TSU on the board. The Tigers sustained the two-out rally with a hard shot off the bat of Shea Morris. The ball skipped by a diving Alex McDavid allowing Gearlds to cross home plate, cutting the lead to 3-2.

The Tigers could not get closer as SIUE tacked on another run in the seventh and Chambers made the score stand. Chambers improved to 13-12 as she surrendered three hits, while striking out 10.

Olivia Gamache (4-11) took the loss tossing four innings, giving up four hits, two walks, three runs, two earned and striking out five.

The second game consisted of three runs, all unearned. The Cougars scored in the second on a throwing error and notched a run in the third taking advantage of a passed ball.

In the bottom of the third, the Tigers would pick up a run on an SIUE miscue. Lindsey Burgess reached base as a ball would get away from the first baseman. The ball would land far enough away for Freeman, who started the play at first, to scamper home.

SIUE hurler Alexis Robison-Kohrs earned her first win of the season as she retired the next 13 batters. Robison-Kohrs yielded two hits, a walk and registered two strikeouts.

Hannah St. Clair worked three innings and was touched for two hits. The freshman suffered the loss and is now 3-10.

Gamache worked one inning and struck out one batter. The fanning, couple with the five in game one, gives the senior 200 strikeouts in her career, becoming the fourth hurler in TSU history to surpass the number. Gamache joins teammate Shea Morris, Amanda Vaught and Caitlin Eaton in the 200 club.

TSU will host Eastern Illinois in a twin bill on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm as TSU will honor seniors Gamache and Ashley Haynes in their final game at Tiger Field. The games can be seen on OVCDigitalNetwork.com.